The Pāramitās are inspirations, not fixed rules. We honor them with our conduct, speech, and thought.
Robert Aitken Roshi
The Paramitas, or perfections, are qualities that deepen and grow as we sit, becoming more present in our lives.
Here’s a 7 minute introduction to the Paramitas by Kirk. Scroll past the video for a list of the paramitas.
Different groups have different versions of the paramitas. The 10 paramitas listed below were discussed by Aitken Roshi in his book The Practice of Perfection: The Paramitas from a Zen Buddhist Perspective.
1. Giving: The Dana Paramita
2. Morality: The Shila Paramita
3. Forbearance: The Kshanti Paramita
4. Zeal: The Virya Paramita
5. Settled, Focused Meditation: The Dhyana Paramita
6. Wisdom: The Prajna Paramita
7. Compassionate Means: The Upaya Paramita
8. Aspiration: The Pranidhana Paramita
9. Spiritual Power: The Bala Paramita
10. Knowledge: The Jnana Paramita
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